If you look at the CNN video, it seems pretty clear Gant was being interviewed right before the explosion, because the reporter mentions him as they wrap up / run away. So I wonder how close in time the photo was to the moment when Gant scurried to the outfield. I also wonder why he didn't put the bat down to take the picture, but the result is iconic, I guess!
As an Atlanta resident, I remember this and I found the minute by minute account fascinating, Paul. The photo of Glavine was epic and how I remember him, even though he still is a sometimes commentator on FanDuel Network broadcasts of Braves games. And Fred McGriff, the “Crime Dog!” Ron Gant, David Justice, Otis Nixon, Jeff Blauser … names that are a blast from the past. Thanks for the deep dive into this story.
With the Braves being so dominant in this era and being on national TV, I feel like they are a team everyone back then knew about. I just never knew their stadium caught on fire! Glad you enjoyed the narrative approach, too. Thanks Meg!
I musta been asleep that year as I don’t remember this at all. I’m surprised the trucks didn’t damage the field with all that weight. Hopefully the stadium was upgraded to stand pipes after that.
I became a first responder three years later so I know how important water access right away is… every minute waisted gives the fire more chance to spread. Good thing no serious injuries occurred.
I was a little curious about the trucks myself, but I guess things were at a point where they just had to deal with it. No lasting damage from what I can tell. The county authority responsible for the park voted not to upgrade it to standpipes or sprinklers after the fire. They felt, not unreasonably, that it was impossible to ask taxpayers to pay millions for code upgrades at a stadium that was nearing the end of its useful life. Fire extinguishers would have to do.
I imagine that people who work in fire safety and emergency response notice things and know things about old buildings that the rest of us are oblivious to. I can't remember the last time I noticed a fire extinguisher somewhere. Hopefully that's just because I wasn't looking.
The Braves handed out commemorative bobble heads in 2023 featuring Ron Grant striking a pose in front of a flaming press box.
This is the best and most comprehensive write-up I've seen on this story. And I'm not surprised in the least. Excellent work, Paul.
If you look at the CNN video, it seems pretty clear Gant was being interviewed right before the explosion, because the reporter mentions him as they wrap up / run away. So I wonder how close in time the photo was to the moment when Gant scurried to the outfield. I also wonder why he didn't put the bat down to take the picture, but the result is iconic, I guess!
As an Atlanta resident, I remember this and I found the minute by minute account fascinating, Paul. The photo of Glavine was epic and how I remember him, even though he still is a sometimes commentator on FanDuel Network broadcasts of Braves games. And Fred McGriff, the “Crime Dog!” Ron Gant, David Justice, Otis Nixon, Jeff Blauser … names that are a blast from the past. Thanks for the deep dive into this story.
With the Braves being so dominant in this era and being on national TV, I feel like they are a team everyone back then knew about. I just never knew their stadium caught on fire! Glad you enjoyed the narrative approach, too. Thanks Meg!
I musta been asleep that year as I don’t remember this at all. I’m surprised the trucks didn’t damage the field with all that weight. Hopefully the stadium was upgraded to stand pipes after that.
I became a first responder three years later so I know how important water access right away is… every minute waisted gives the fire more chance to spread. Good thing no serious injuries occurred.
Thanx for sharing Paul.
I was a little curious about the trucks myself, but I guess things were at a point where they just had to deal with it. No lasting damage from what I can tell. The county authority responsible for the park voted not to upgrade it to standpipes or sprinklers after the fire. They felt, not unreasonably, that it was impossible to ask taxpayers to pay millions for code upgrades at a stadium that was nearing the end of its useful life. Fire extinguishers would have to do.
I imagine that people who work in fire safety and emergency response notice things and know things about old buildings that the rest of us are oblivious to. I can't remember the last time I noticed a fire extinguisher somewhere. Hopefully that's just because I wasn't looking.
Thanks Jeff!
Getting “All in the Family” reruns instead of Braves baseball? That’s a win, man!